ResourcesGulf of Maine Library CollectionThis library is comprised of all the research papers, conference proceedings, monitoring guidebooks, annual reports, and newsletters which the Maine State Planning Office gathered in an effort to become the official home of the Gulf of Maine Library. It consists of nearly 200 documents, and aims to provide the Gulf of Maine community with the information it needs to make good decisions about the future of this precious region. The materials in the following list are in no particular order. We are in the process of developing a cataloging system and searchable database, but for the time being, use your browser's search function (found in the EDIT menu) to find particular words, names, locations, etc. Documents cited near the bottom of the page include abstracts and, in some case, full documents.Contact David Keeley if you would like to borrow or copy any of these documents. Penobscot Bay Maine - National Estuary Program Nomination. Gro Flatebo and Anne Hayden. March 1995. The Gulf of Maine Regional Marine Research Program: Report on Research Program. May 1997. Government of Canada. Canada’s Green Plan. 1990. 174 pp. Environment Canada. Health of Our Oceans 1987/1989 Progress Report. November 1989. 32 pp. Maritime Resource Management Service. Nova Scotia Fisheries Atlas. May 1982. 44 pp. Hunter and Associates. Fundy Coastal Zone Study - Map Descriptions. Hunter and Associates. Fundy Coastal Zone Study. 287 pp. Marine Law Institute. Comparative Assessment of State Laws Protecting the Marine Environment of the Gulf of Maine - Appendix F: Summaries and Abstracts of State Laws. February 1991. Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment. Evaluation of GulfWatch 1992. June 1994. 141 pp. Environment Canada. The Atlantic Region of Canada: An Ecological Perspective. March 1984. 28 pp. Coastal 2000 - A Consultation Paper. July 1994. 109 pp. Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment. Annual Report 1991/1992. 12 pp. Environment Canada. Atlantic Region - State of the Environment Reporting. 12 pp. Van Dusen, Katrina. Our Fragile Gulf. 1990. 7 pp. Gulf of Maine 1993 Bibliography. Regional Association for Research on the Gulf of Maine. 1993. 5 pp. Sanctuary Journal of the Massachusetts Audubon Society. October 1990. 30 pp. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Gulf of Maine Coastal and Estuary Program. March 1991. 9 pp. Brooks, David A., A Brief Overview of the Physical Oceanography of the Gulf of Maine. 18 pp. Gottholm, B. William and Donna D. Turgeon. Toxic Contaminants in the Gulf of Maine. 15 pp.
-- The Regional Association for Research on the Gulf of Maine was founded in 1991, based on the recognition that there was a need to stimulate, facilitate and coordinate scientific research focused on the Gulf of Maine as a natural system. This association planned and initiated the Gulf of Maine Ecosystem Dynamics Scientific Symposium and Workshop which took place from September 16-19, 1996 in St. Andrews, New Brunswick. This resource is comprised of the panel remarks, plenary session papers, and working group reports which were presented during the proceedings of that week. One of the main goals for this scientific workshop was to produce the next generation of research priorities and scientific questions for the Gulf of Maine. Panel discussions focused on the contemporary management issues requiring scientific research, and the plenary session papers included such topics as Ecosystem Modeling Assessment and Human-Induced Biological Changes in the Gulf of Maine. The Regional Association for Research on the Gulf of Maine was founded in 1991, based on the recognition that there was a need to stimulate, facilitate and coordinate scientific research focused on the Gulf of Maine as a natural system. This association planned and initiated the Gulf of Maine Ecosystem Dynamics Scientific Symposium and Workshop which took place from September 16-19, 1996 in St. Andrews, New Brunswick. This resource is a list all of all the people who participated in this Scientific Symposium and Workshop. Characterization and Mitigation of Marine Debris in the Gulf of Maine. Porter Hoagland and Hauke L. Kit-Powell. October 1997. 41 pp. View this entire Document!! This report examines data on the temporal and spatial distribution of marine debris in the Gulf of Maine and the effectiveness of policy responses. It consists of two main parts: (1) the development of a historical "baseline" for marine debris distributions in the Gulf of Maine and (2) a review of existing debris reduction and prevention policies in the Gulf and elsewhere. The purpose of the report is to provide guidance for the future efforts to address the problems of marine debris in the Gulf of Maine. Two of the main conclusions of this study include the following: some 80 to 85 percent of marine debris collected in beach cleanups appears to be from shore-based sources, and the lack of data makes it difficult to establish the success or failure of particular approaches to marine debris. In their Action Plan, the Gulf of Maine Council outlined the need to identify "regionally significant habitats" in the Gulf of Maine for protection, restoration, and enhancement. A habitat panel, formed by the Council, agreed that such habitats could be identified as those areas of greatest importance to highly regarded species. After a survey was conducted to develop and rank a list of "priority species" based upon a variety of social and ecological criteria, two pilot projects were carried out to demonstrate approaches to delineating regionally significant habitats; one each in Great Bay and Passamaquoddy Bay. This document is a report of the results of a Peer Review which was convened to evaluate the results of the pilot projects and assess the projects based on general and technical acceptability of the findings, and the methods applied. This report basically summarizes the discussions of the panel which address each of the review criteria. The New England Aquarium in Boston, Massachusetts held a Forum entitled "Shipping/Right Whale Workshop" on April 17th and 18th, 1997, to provide an opportunity for representatives from the shipping industry, the scientific and conservation communities, and the federal and state agencies responsible for protecting right whales and regulating shipping to initiate discussions on developing a strategy to reduce the impact of shipping on right whales. The workshop’s goal was to have forum participants examine current research and mitigation initiatives, possible technological solutions, potential regulatory measures, and the operational structure of the shipping industry. This resource includes all the working group discussion points and summaries developed at the workshop, and the plenary session papers that were presented. The findings and recommendations concluded upon by the end of the workshop are included as well. Marine Conservation News-Vol. 9, No. 1, Spring 1997. Center for Marine Conservation. 23 pp. Marine Conservation News is published by the Center for Marine Conservation, committed to protecting ocean environments and conserving the global abundance and diversity of marine life through science-based advocacy, research, and public education, and the promotion of informed citizen participation to reverse the degradation of our oceans. This volume is particularly important to the Gulf of Maine program for its article ‘Saving Whales and Dolphins, One Fishery at a Time’. This article sites the Gulf of Maine Harbor Porpoise Take Reduction Team as one of its conservation teams fighting in the Gulf for a marine mammal species. The article also sites the Gulf of Maine sink gillnet fishery as one fishery contributing to mortality of right whales exceeding the biological level that would allow the species to grow. Environmental Data and Information Management System (EDIMS) is on-line resource for the Gulf of Maine Program. This document is a printout of the main bits of information available for use on the Internet. There is an Information Management Committee bulletin board where you can post a message. There is an address database which can be searched by e-mail address, name, or keyword, as well as allow for new addresses to be entered. There is also mailing lists, worldwide web access statistics for EDIMS, and a searchable directory for databases. The most important features also available for use are the document library and publications list. Here, certain documents can be downloaded for personal use and a large list of publications concerning the Gulf of Maine are suggested. One neat thing that is provided here is a list of web sites that people in the Gulf of Maine community might be interested in. Gulf of Maine News-Winter. Regional Association for Research on the Gulf of Maine. 1996. 16 pp. This newsletter is published by the Regional Association for Research on the Gulf of Maine, which was founded in 1991, based on the recognition that there was a need to stimulate, facilitate and coordinate scientific research focused on the Gulf of Maine as a natural system. In this issue, winter 1996, there are three main articles: ‘Land-Ocean Interactions in the Coastal Zone: An International Science Program with Relevance to the Gulf of Maine,’ ‘Canada GLOBEC Atlantic Program,’ and ‘Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) in the Gulf of Maine Sediments Visualized by Principal Component Analysis (PCA).’ In this newsletter, there is a workshop reports and updates section, a resources section, and a section called the Internet corner. There is also a calendar with upcoming dates of Gulf of Maine importance. The 1995 Gulf of Maine bibliography was published by the Regional Association for Research on the Gulf of Maine, which was founded in 1991, based on the recognition that there was a need to stimulate, facilitate and coordinate scientific research focused on the Gulf of Maine as a natural system. The bibliography contains scientific contact information for members of the biology, chemistry, geology, hydrology, interdisciplinary, management, and physics communities working in the Gulf of Maine. The names were obtained by searching for the following keywords: gulf of maine, bay of fundy, georges bank, georges basin, scotian shelf, maine, nova scotia, massachusetts, cape cod, estuarine, and coast. The contact information for these contacts was accurate as of November, 1995. Identification of Important Habitats in the Lower Casco Bay (Maine) Watershed, Arnold Banner and Jon Libby. View this entire document!! This report focuses on the clear depiction of important habitats in Gulf of Maine/Casco Bay area, offering species habitat maps and listing funding opportunities for local conservation groups interested in habitat protection. Mapping Important Habitats of Coastal New Hampshire, Arnold Banner and Gerald Hayes PDF. Available!! The Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment,US Fish and Wildlife Gulf of Maine Project, and the Huntsman Marine Center cooperatively supported 2 pilot projects to map important habitats in U.S. and Canadian coastal areas. The pilot projects in Great Bay, New Hampshire and in Passamaquoddy Bay, New Brunswick were intended to develop methods for selection of evaluation species, for identifying and rating those species' habitats, for determining regionally important habitats based on that information, and for use of the maps and associated information in resource conservation. The analysis for Great Bay is described in detail, and maps of important habitats are displayed on this and linked webpages. These maps are being distributed to government agencies and to local conservation interests for their use in habitat conservation. This guide was published by the Boston Harbor Association, a nonprofit organization founded in 1973 to promote a clean, alive and accessible Boston Harbor, and was funded by the Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment. The citizen’s guide highlights ways that you can help keep Boston Harbor swimmable and fishable by taking actions at home, on the water, and in the community. For the home, this guide suggests environmentally safe ways to deal with household products, paint & other solvents, automotive products, and pesticides & fertilizers. It also provides easy ways of conserving water. On the water, this guide advises taking action if you see a potential pollution problem, and being an environmentally friendly boater. In the community, this guide suggests organizing a community service project, volunteering as a water quality monitor, contacting public officials, getting media coverage, or joining a local nonprofit organization. Doing these kinds of things is essential to making a difference for our environment. Also available in Spanish. This report focuses on the impact of domestic animal wastes on fecal coliform levels in the mainstream and tributaries in the non-tidal lower basin of the Ipswich River. The document mainly contains the scientific results of water samples that were collected and analyzed for fecal coliform and optical brighteners during both dry weather and wet weather events. The author points out that high concentrations of fecal coliform bacteria in the river and its tributaries have severely impacted the shellfishing industry in Ipswich, and the main conclusion to the study is that a great deal of work still needs to be done in order to make it safe to reopen the shellfish beds in the Ipswich area because fecal coliform levels are too high. This document is just one of three main tasks for the ‘How Animal Wastes Pollute Water, and What You Can Do About It’ project, the other two being an inventory of town records to determine where sources of fecal contaminant exist near the mainstream or a tributary, and educational materials for all grade levels centered around a "hands on, seeing is believing" approach to learning an awareness of how activities throughout the watershed impact the coastal zone. Common Tern Habitat Restoration. Audubon Society of New Hampshire. Sept 20, 1998. 33 pp. This resource documents a project to protect, manage and enhance the breeding population of common terns on White and Seavey Islands of New Hampshire through a continued presence on the islands and the development and implementation of an outreach program designed to educate coastal resource users. The project had four main objectives: (1) to enhance and expand the established tern colony on Seavey Island, (2) to monitor common tern breeding populations on the New Hampshire mainland, (3) to contribute information to the development of a management plan by the Department of Resources and Economic Development to ensure the long term protection of White and Seavey Islands as a colonial seabird nesting site, and (4) to inform New Hampshire coastal residents and visitors about tern ecology, restoration and protection in the Gulf of Maine. This document presents the evaluations and recommendations produced from this project, as well as how the project was executed. Results from both the 1997 and 1998 field seasons were extremely encouraging. In November 1990, Public Law 101-593 was signed into law. It authorized the establishment of nine Regional Marine Research (RMR) Programs to: (1) set priorities for regional marine and coastal research in support of efforts to safeguard the water quality and ecosystem health of each region, and (2) carry out such research through grants and improved coordination. The Gulf of Maine is one of the nine regions. This document is a report on the Gulf of Maine Regional Marine Research Program. It presents the findings and conclusions of on-going research projects conducted in the Gulf of Maine region as of February 1995; it also offers recommendations for improvements in the design or implementation of programs for the protection of the marine environment. The report includes data and information concerning ecosystem health within the Gulf region and appendices which provide technical progress reports and summaries of research proposals funded in the first three years of the Gulf of Maine RMRP. There are progress reports for twelve research projects. The Gulf of Maine Scientific workshop (GOMSW) was the multidisciplinary initiative of a group of U.S. and Canadian ocean scientists and environmental managers. Created by the Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment, the GOMSW was structured with invited talks, poster presentations, and working groups, all designed to promote communications across disciplinary, functional and national boundaries. This workshop, which took place from January 8th to the 10th, 1991 at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, gathered 250 coastal ocean research scientists and engineers, environmental managers, commercial and industrial leaders and informed citizens. This resource is comprised of the opening remarks, invited papers providing a Gulf overview, and working group reports which were presented during the proceedings of those few days. The resource also provides such things as a list of all workshop participants, a list of Gulf of Maine research and monitoring programs, and all poster session papers presented during the workshop. April 10th to the 14th, 1994, the Environmental Protection Agency co-sponsored the fourth in a series of National Volunteer Water Monitoring Conferences. More than 300 people - volunteer program organizers, volunteer monitors, government and business representatives, and educators - came to Portland, Oregon to share their experiences, insights, methodologies, questions, and enthusiasm. This document is comprised of all the plenary papers that were presented during the week, and these papers show, among other things, that volunteer programs nationwide are working to develop collaborative partnerships with businesses, government, and universities. A complete address list of all those who attended the conference is given as well. The conference was held at Portland State University. This document presents the discussion and research that was initiated by a conference that occurred on May 30, 1997 at the Warren Conference Center in Ashland, Massachusetts. The purpose of the conference was to present available information about effects of fishing gear on New England’s sea floor and on fishing productivity, benthic habitats, and biodiversity. This resource includes all the papers delivered at the conference, as well as a summary of discussion and recommendations from the conference, but is not limited to a simple report of the conference proceedings. This document also includes the following: fishermen’s perspectives on their gear and on fish habitat, two additional papers researched after the conference, an overview of the geology of New England’s sea floor, and a section of additional observations by fishermen and scientists. A discussion of the management implications and options is beyond the scope of this resource. Among those responsible for the funding of this volume are the Center for Marine Conservation, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and the Regional Marine Research Program for the Gulf of Maine. This resource is a manual which compiles methodologies and techniques used in volunteer programs for estuarine waters across the United States. This information is useful not only to the citizen monitor but also to the administrators of these volunteer monitoring efforts. This manual describes specific techniques that managers can use to enhance exiting programs or to launch a new volunteer monitoring program. The focus of this document is the identification of those water quality parameters that are most important in determining an estuary’s water quality. The significance of each parameter and specific methods to monitor it are then detailed in a step-by-step fashion. This manual stresses proper quality assurance and quality control techniques to ensure that the data are useful to state agencies and any other data users. This resource is a companion document to Volunteer Water Monitoring: A Guide for State Managers, and is published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The goal of the Friends of Casco Bay Citizens’ Water Quality Monitoring program is to coordinate a baywide citizen monitoring program which will provide quality data to assist in the monitoring and protection of the waters of Casco Bay and its watershed. To meet this goal, quality assurance and quality control must be paramount in the program. These concepts are emphasized in volunteer training and in the development of sampling and analytical procedures. This documents presents the methods, procedures, and maintenance necessary to carry out and report the findings of this monitoring program in Casco Bay. It serves as a manual for the ongoing assessment of water quality in the Casco Bay. Casco Bay is part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency National Estuary Program, and the Citizens’ Water Quality Monitoring program is funded by the Casco Bay Estuary Project, organized and implemented by the Friends of Casco Bay. Citizens Program for the Chesapeake Bay, Inc. (CPCB) sponsored a pilot water quality testing project for volunteers as part of its Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) public participation grant from the Environmental Protection Agency. The data collected in this project can be used to further assist in determining seasonal and temporal trends and evaluating the water quality status of selected tributaries to the Bay. This documents presents the methods, procedures, and maintenance necessary to carry out and report the findings of this monitoring program in the Chesapeake Bay. It serves as a manual for the ongoing assessment of water quality in the Bay, and provides the necessary background for volunteers wishing to add their contribution to the success of the program. Publication of a coastal trends report series is an evolving activity of the Office of Oceanography and Marine Assessment (OMA) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The series investigates and illustrates the effects of current and projected development in the Nation’s coastal areas. The series was initiated in 1989 as a program for strategic assessments of the Nation’s coastal and ocean resources. This document presents the analysis from the second report of a coastal trend series, which focuses on population growth and related development. This report describes recent and projected trends in size, distribution, and density of the Nation’s coastal population. These trends are examined by region, state, and county over a fifty-year period, 1960-2010. The northeast is one of the regions analyzed, and within this section Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, are considered individually for their population trends. This amendment, Amendment Number 2, revised the July 15th, 1991 agreement as amended by Amendment number 1, signed by the MeDEP Commissioner on October 23rd, 1992. It was understood by all parties that the programmatic work and management decisions under the Casco Bay Estuary Project would involve the cooperation of the CBEP Director and the EPA Project Coordinator, and would work in accordance with guidance of the Management Committee of the CBEP. This agreement was in effect until July 14, 1996, which was the end date of the approved project period for the cooperative agreement between U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and NEIWPCC for the Casco Bay Estuary Project(CBEP). This agreement was to be amended at any time by mutual consent and to be canceled by either party upon formal written notification. This resource documents this amendment, outlining all the responsibilities for the respective departments, and dealing with all program costs. This resource provides all the necessary information regarding awards of financial assistance such as federal grants or cooperative agreements. This report gives all the requirements for managing an assistance agreement, such as the proper procedures for complying with federal regulations, for requesting payment, for reporting, for closeout, and for records retention. There are sample documents of the standard forms used in reporting financial status, request forms for reimbursement, and a sample application. There is also an EPA grants specialist telephone listing, a post award kit survey, and a return mailing address. This document mainly serves as a manual for awards of financial assistance. This resource contains the pertinent data sheets and project maps for Federally authorized civil works projects along the rivers and harbors of Maine and New Hampshire. This booklet is Volume 1 of a three volume series which documents these civil works projects along the entire New England coast from the New York-Connecticut state line to the United States-Canada border. Each project is listed individually along with its current status, progress to date as of September of 1982, and cost of new work done. For each project, there is also additional information such as when the last full report was conducted and the mean range of tide for the area being worked on. The index of this resource includes a listing of pertinent federal and state agencies in the New England Area having jurisdiction in the waterways and along the shoreline. This address and contact information is probably outdated. Designed by the Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary, this handbook explores the life history of the most endangered whale, the northern right whale, and the Sanctuary’s history with the whale from exploitation to conservation. This handbook is designed for the classroom, there are four engaging teaching activities that students will thoroughly enjoy and remember. These activities are aimed at students to awaken them to the presence of this rare and endangered ocean neighbor and them discover that we as humans can and should navigate more carefully to protect the right whales future. This resource is one unit in a more comprehensive education module developed about key endangered and threatened species in Georgia. This document is important to the Gulf of Maine because the right whale is also a key species in the Gulf’s ecosystem. In addition to the student activities listed, there are also four informational articles: whales great and small, hunting the right whale, migration, and anatomy & physiology. Most of the activities deal with anatomy and physiology of right whales, one deals with migration. As of March 27, 1995 the Massachusetts offshore fishing fleet had become over-capitalized due in large part to federal government incentives which followed the implementation of the Magnuson Act in 1976. The act banned foreign vessels from fishing within a 200 mile boundary of United States waters. As a result, fishing effort efficiently had developed beyond the capability of groundfish spawning stock to be self-sustaining. The drastic decline in available stocks of groundfish, especially cod, haddock and yellow-tail flounder, had adversely affected the Commonwealth’s fishing fleet and, in turn, severely impacted the associated marine industries (processors, distributors, outfitters, machinists, etc.). This document reports the issues and recommendations that resulted from this situation. The five maine issues raised are: fleet reduction, harvesting of underutilized alternate species, display auctions, aquaculture, and the coordination of existing and future funding programs and economic development projects. Many recommendations are given for each issue. The Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment and the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service provided funding to initiate quadrangle-based wetland trends studies for selected areas in the Gulf of Maine. These studies identify the extent and nature of wetland alterations for designated local areas. This report presents the findings of the wetland trends analysis study for selected areas of the Casco Bay Estuary. It is one of the four study areas in the Gulf of Maine chosen by the Service for detailed wetland trends analysis. The study area of this resource is located in southwestern Maine, along the coast from Cape Elizabeth and Old Orchard Beach to Phippsburg and Richmond. The analysis mainly involved the comparison of aerial photographs from two different time periods, one from 1974-77 (mid 1970’s), and the other from 1984-87 (mid 1980’s). The overall trend for the study area’s wetlands was losses of vegetated wetlands and gains in nonvegetated wetlands (mostly ponds). Although this report documents recent trends in the study area’s wetlands, it does not address changes in the quality of the remaining wetlands. The Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment and the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service provided funding to initiate quadrangle-based wetland trends studies for selected areas in the Gulf of Maine. These studies identify the extent and nature of wetland alterations for designated local areas. This report presents the findings of the wetland trends analysis study for selected areas of the Cobscook Bay/St. Croix River Estuary in Maine. It is one of the four study areas in the Gulf of Maine chosen by the Service for detailed wetland trends analysis. The study area of this resource is located in east-coastal Maine, from the Canadian border along the St. Croix River at Calais, to West Quoddy Head in Lubec, to the Grand Manan Channel off Trescott. The analysis mainly involved the comparison of aerial photographs from two different time periods, one from 1975-77 (mid 1970’s), and the other from 1983-85 (mid 1980’s). The overall trend for the study area’s wetlands was losses of vegetated wetlands as they were converted to gains in nonvegetated wetlands or deepwater habitats. Although this report documents recent trends in the study area’s wetlands, it does not address changes in the quality of the remaining wetlands. The Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment and the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service provided funding to initiate quadrangle-based wetland trends studies for selected areas in the Gulf of Maine. These studies identify the extent and nature of wetland alterations for designated local areas. This report presents the findings of the wetland trends analysis study for selected areas from York, Maine to Rowley, Massachusetts. It is one of the four study areas in the Gulf of Maine chosen by the Service for detailed wetland trends analysis. The study area of this resource is located along the coast of Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts, from Argo Point in York, Maine to Plum Island in Rowley, Massachusetts (also included are the Isles of Shoals in Maine and New Hampshire). The analysis mainly involved the comparison of aerial photographs from two different time periods, one from 1977, and the other from 1985-86. The overall trend for the study area’s wetland was losses of vegetated wetlands and gains in nonvegetated wetlands (mostly ponds). Although this report documents recent trends in the study area’s wetlands, it does not address changes in the quality of the remaining wetlands. Marine Debris Project Highlights - May 1997. View this entire document!! Throughout the Gulf of Maine Watershed, concerned citizens, community groups, and government organizations are working together to reduce the incidence of marine debris through education, prevention, and cleanup. This newsletter describes efforts supported by the Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment (GOMC), a group of representatives from the provinces and states of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Massachusetts, Maine, and New Hampshire. By encouraging and providing funding to groups such as those shown on the map below, the Council works towards one of its goals: to significantly reduce the amount of marine debris in the Gulf of Maine. This resource provides the project descriptions which highlight successful projects carried out in 1996, and the Council’s workplan for addressing the marine debris issue in 1997. Volunteer Water Monitoring: A Guide For State Managers. US EPA. 78 pp. A companion document to Volunteer Estuary Monitoring: A Methods Manual, this resource is a guide to the management of citizen volunteer monitoring programs which aim to assess the quality of our Nation’s water resources. Although specific approaches will vary depending on the type of waters to be assessed, the parameters to be monitored, and the amount of resources the State is able to commit to the program, this guide nonetheless helps new programs build on the experiences of successful, established programs and avoid any pitfalls they may have encountered. This guide also serves to help improve existing volunteer programs and spark interest in States that have not yet made made plans to work with citizen volunteers. The following chapters are included: volunteers in water monitoring, planning a volunteer monitoring program, implementing a volunteer monitoring program, providing credible information, and costs & funding. This is also an appendix which describes five successful programs, one in Illinois, Kentucky, New York, Ohio, and the Chesapeake Bay. Marine Protected Areas in the Gulf of Maine PDF. Downloads!! This resource is actually a connection to a number documents concerning Marine Protected Areas in the Gulf of Maine. This useful site defines marine protected areas (MPAs), offers an extensive reference list, and reports on the results from a survey on the potential of a MPA program for the Gulf of Maine. The document identifies key aspects in the development of a possible marine protection initiative. There are six documents in this resource, they include: Marine Protected Areas in the Gulf of Maine: A Survey of Marine Users and Other Interested Parties; Marine Protected Areas in the Gulf of Maine: A Report on the Results of a Workshop, April 24-25, 1997; and an Evaluation of Legal Mechanisms For Establishing Marine Protected Areas In the Gulf of Maine. Massachusetts Bays 1996 Comprehensive Conservation & Management Plan. The Bays Program. 1996. 57 pp. The Massachusetts Bays Program (MBP) is a federal, state, and local partnership funded by the EPA and the Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs. The Massachusetts Bays Program was launched in 1988 to actively address the mounting environmental threats to the health of Massachusetts and Cape Cod Bays. This document outlines the MBP’s Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan, which serves as the ‘blueprint’ for coordinated action among all levels of government to restore and protect water quality and the diverse natural resources of the Massachusetts Bay estuary. Two of the projects main goals are improving the habitats of living resources in Massachusetts and Cape Cod Bays, and protecting public health by minimizing risk from environmental contaminants. This resource describes and discusses the fifteen major action plans of the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan in great detail. Also discussed in some depth is CCMP’s plans for the implementation, financing, and monitoring of the action plans. Together, these plans expect to lead to the restoration and protection of the Bay’s water quality, living resources, and species habitats. This document, the 1990 National Shellfish Registry of Classified Estuarine Waters, describes declines in estuarine water quality, decreases in the acreage of approved molluscan shellfish-growing waters, and continuing declines in the Nation’s shellfish harvests. Relationships between these declines are discussed in this resource, and although declines in any given year, and even from 1985 to 1990, are not dramatic, an almost inexorable trend that threatens to destroy the harvest of wild or natural shellfish continues throughout the Nation’s coastal areas. The 1990 Register covers 3,172 shellfishing areas encompassing 18.7 million acres of classified estuarine and offshore waters in 23 states. This reports provides data for regional geographic areas (north atlantic, middle atlantic, south atlantic, gulf of mexico, and pacific), and each region is broken down by state. There are the following appendices to this resource: classification by state, classification by estuary, pollution sources, landings by state, and state shellfish programs. This report was funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce. The Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment and the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service provided funding to initiate quadrangle-based wetland trends studies for selected areas in the Gulf of Maine. These studies identify the extent and nature of wetland alterations for designated local areas. This report presents the findings of the wetland trends analysis study for selected areas of the coast of Massachusetts, from Plum Island to Scituate. It is one of the four study areas in the Gulf of Maine chosen by the Service for detailed wetland trends analysis. The study area of this resource is located along the coast of Massachusetts, from Plum Island in Rowley, Massachusetts to Scituate, Massachusetts. The analysis mainly involved the comparison of aerial photographs from two different time periods, one from 1977, and the other from 1985-86. The overall trend for the study area’s wetland was losses of vegetated wetlands and gains in nonvegetated wetlands (mostly ponds). Although this report documents recent trends in the study area’s wetlands, it does not address changes in the quality of the remaining wetlands. In Connecticut, historic tidal wetland losses have resulted from activities such as dredging and filling. As a result, the restoration of degraded tidal wetlands has been a priority of the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection for some time. This document presents the findings of a study conducted by the Corps of Engineers under the Planning Assistance to States Program and Coastal America initiative. This report evaluates the relationship of transportation crossings to degradation in coves where the dominant aquatic resource is tidal wetlands dominated by Phragmites. The findings from eight tidal wetland sites in eastern Connecticut are presented in this resource. Each site was suspected to have degrading or degraded tidal wetlands believed to be caused by tidal restrictions associated with transportation crossings. The sites were selected from the geographic range New Haven to Stonington. Access to high quality and up-to-date scientific and technical data and information is essential to the conduct of scientific research and resource management. As of July, 1998 the Council on the Gulf of Maine and the Regional Marine Research Program had separately supported regional efforts by several institutions in the development of two related on-line data and information systems, REDIMS and EDIMS. This resource documents the efforts to help these information systems reach their full potential. It presents the recent actions of each group towards the increased success and accessibility of these on-line resources, as well as introduces the recommendations from both the Council and Association. This document also includes the workshop proceedings of Data and Information workshop that was convened as one of next steps in the organization of these two data systems. This report identifies and analyzes non-governmental funding options for the Gulf of Maine Program. It was prepared by the Secretariat of the Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment to aid the Council’s Finance Network. The purpose of this document is to examine the many aspects of foundation, corporate and individual giving, as well as some of the tax laws which regulate charitable giving in both Canada and the United States. Also, a large part of this report is dedicated to the review of other exemplary efforts at coordinated water body protection. Included in the resource is an overview of the Gulf of Maine Program and its objectives, as well as the recommendations produced as a result as this funding evaluation. There are two appendices to this document, one lists the most promising foundations for the funding of the Gulf of Maine Program, and the other provides a directory of files for the program. On March 27, 1997 the St. Croix Estuary Project released a comprehensive environmental management plan (CEMP) entitled Caring for Our Coast: A Plan for Community Management of the St. Croix Estuary Area. The sampling of Tributylin (TBT) and Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediment addresses two of the 50 actions in the CEMP that have been deemed, through research and public input, necessary to maintain and make improvements in the health of the St. Croix Estuary. These actions are as follows: (#17) assess PAH concentrations and potential ecological effects, and (#41) assess TBT concentrations and potential ecological effects. PAHs and TBT have been identified as toxic substances of concern to human and environmental interests. This document presents the project, and its findings, which was undertaken in order to determine the impact these substances have had in the St. Croix Estuary. Included in this resource are the procedures, sampling methodologies, and decontamination instructions used for this study. St. Croix Estuary Area: A Profile, March 27, 1997. St. Croix Estuary Project. March, 1997. This document provides background information to Caring for Our Coast: A Plan for Community Management of the St. Croix Estuary Area, the environmental management plan developed by the directors, other volunteers and staff of the St. Croix Estuary Project (SCEP). This resource profiles the St. Croix Estuary Area, and contains a wealth of knowledge about the physical, biological and socio-economic settings of the Estuary Area. This report gives information on the existing jurisdictions for resource and environmental planning and management. The focus of the profile is on the estuarine and marine waters and associated resources of St. Croix Estuary Area. The examination of freshwater and terrestrial systems within the St.Croix River watershed in not included in this report. This document is aimed at local people and others who may need or wish to learn more about the water-based environment of the St. Croix/Passamaquoddy region. This document is a companion volume to The St. Croix Estuary Area: A Profile. It presents the management plan that followed the St. Croix Estuary Program’s initial work in 1993-94 to determine the values of local residents with regard to the St.Croix Estuary Area, and their vision for these coastal lands and waters. This resource also follows considerable research to identify and define key issues of interest to local people and others. Altogether, the plan addressed some 30 issues and recommends 50 actions. This document chronicles this comprehensive environmental community management plan through its creation, sustainability, and implementation and evaluation. Initiated by an overwhelming community vision, this plan aims to manage and protect the beautiful resources in and around the St. Croix Estuary Area. Final Report of the Seabird Restoration Program. Stephen W. Kress. September 9, 1998. 3 pp. This short, three page document is the final report on the National Audubon Society’s Seabird Restoration Program. The program had three main tasks: (1) establishment of an outreach program, (2) tern restoration on Pond Island NWR, and (3) Roseate tern research. This resource provides not only the procedures which were carried out in order to meet these tasks, but also the relative success or failure of each as of this final report on September 9, 1998. Generally speaking, all three projects showed signs of success. This report was funded by the U.S. Gulf of Maine Association. Mercury is a toxic metal that exists as a trace element in the earth’s crust. Once mobilized in the environment it can be transformed into methylmercury, a particularly toxic form of mercury that can bioaccumulate in fish and be ingested by fish-eating animals and humans. This document is a product of a regional study that was prompted by a desire to refine the results of a recent national evaluation of atmospheric mercury emissions that was conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in accordance with requirements of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments. This study is the result of a two-year collaboration of three interstate organizations - the Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management, the Northeast Waste Management Officials Association, and the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission - together with the eastern Canadian provinces and Environment Canada. This document is primarily intended as an informational resource for state and provincial governments as they continue to address the mercury issue and seek ways to coordinate their efforts. There are many conclusions and recommendations in this resource as a result of this study, all are aimed at reducing the public health and environmental impacts associated with mercury. Gulf Links. A Resource Guide to Coastal Organizations in the Gulf of Maine Region. 84 pp. Gulf-links is designed to spark connections among organizations with similar objectives and encourage them to collaborate on projects of mutual interest. This guide is also intended to direct the general public to cultural and educational opportunities, advocacy and professional organizations, and sources of technical assistance. This document provides information on aquariums and maritime museums; educational and research organizations; environmental and conservation organizations; fishing, aquaculture, and marine trade organizations; national parks and wildlife refuges; and regional, state, provincial, and federal agencies in the Gulf region. The information provided in this resource, and the contact information (where included), was valid as of 1991. Information is given for all Gulf of Maine regions - Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. Coastlinks. A Resource Guide to Maine’s Coastal Organizations. 70 pp. This resource, the 1997 addition of Coastlinks, provides a guide to Maine’s Coastal organizations, helping to discover and understand their goals, projects, and resources. Most of the entries of this resource have complete information on the organization’s goals, projects or programs, available resources, mailing and e-mail addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and, when available, Internet websites. The organizations are grouped under the following headings: aquaria, maritime museums/societies, educational and research organizations, environmental organizations, marine trade organizations, parks and sanctuaries, state agencies, cooperative extension offices, planning/municipal assistance, and miscellaneous. There are also many appendices with pertinent listings such as state parks along the coast and boat launching sites on saltwater and tidal rivers. The Role of Research in Community-Based Fisheries Management. Arthur Bull. 23 pp. This handbook is about the role of research in community-based management in the fisheries. It takes as its starting point the Fundy Fixed Gear Council’s (FFGC) research plans for its first two seasons of operation, 1996 and 1997. Based on this example, this document draws out some issues and questions about how research relates to community-based management (CMB) in general. The handbook has six main sections: (1) an account of FFGC’s research plan and the lessons that arose from it, (2) a general discussion of the role of research in CMB, (3) a survey of research approaches and methodologies currently in use in the fisheries, (4) a possible approach to research in CMB, (5) a list of tools and resources available to groups doing research as part of CMB, and (6) some general conclusions and suggestions about research and CMB. This resource is not a ‘how-to-manual’ for research by fishermen’s associations, it is rather a discussion of some ways that research might fit into CMB in general. An evaluation of the existing legal framework for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in necessary when considering an ecosystem-based approach to protection in the Gulf of Maine. This report describes and interprets the major agreements, laws, and programs relevant to establishing MPAs. In cases where laws are not geared exclusively towards creating MPAs, only applicable portions or sections are emphasized. This report is not meant to be an exhaustive list or detailed analysis of every law or program, but an evaluation and comparison of the options which would have to be employed if a Gulf-wide approach to MPAs is taken. This document’s main conclusion is that the greatest opportunity for designating and implementing MPAs in the Gulf of Maine lies at the federal level. The legal mechanisms applicable to MPAs in the Gulf described in this document fall under the following categories: international agreements, major federal laws and programs, supporting federal laws and programs, and state/provincial laws and programs. The Parker River Clean Water Association (PRCWA) is an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the restoration and protection of the ecological integrity of the Parker River, Plum Island Sound, their tributary streams, and adjacent lands. The Parker River-Plum Island Sound Basin covers 82 square miles in northeastern Massachusetts and contains extensive salt marshes. This handbook is designed to disseminate the methods of assessing potential tidal restrictions that were developed by the PRCWA to other volunteer-based efforts along the coast of the Gulf of Maine and elsewhere. This resource has five chapters: (1) the salt marsh: a place to value and protect, (2) getting started, (3) phase 1: visual assessment, (4) phase 2: measuring the tides, and (5) phase 3: taking action. The handbook also has two appendices, one goes over troubleshooting, the other provides some example data sheets for the field. Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment, Annual Report 1996-1997. 20 pp. This annual report highlights some of the progressive elements of the Gulf of Maine Council’s work for the year 1996-1997. It includes highlights of 1996-97 events, the Council’s 1996-97 project portfolio, their non-governmental organization (NGO) grant program, the 1996-97 visionary award recipients, the 1996-97 revenues for Gulf of Maine program, the 1996-97 budget, and the secretariat income and expenditures for the year 1996-97. This document also includes a membership listing, Gulf of Maine publications listing, and a Gulf watershed map. The Council’s greatest achievement for the year 1996-97 was the development and production of the five year action plan which re-evaluated its priorities for the next five years setting top priority focus on the coastal and marine habitats of the Gulf of Maine. Funded by the Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, this resource is a compilation of materials and tools that can be used by schools to enhance their marine ecology curriculum. This resource as many interesting, fun to read and use, educational sections. There is information on marine intertidal ecology and the rocky shore with reference sheets pointing out important intertidal plants and animals. There is a Gulf of Maine marine coloring book, a booklet on Maine’s intertidal habitats, a booklet on the classification of marine and estuarine habitats in Maine, and a section dedicated to information about Phytoplankton with reference sheets for common plankton. This document also has sections devoted to marine algae, soft-shell clams, and clean water monitoring. Overall, this resource can be used as a great reference to marine ecology education for all ages. Coastal Zone 97 was the tenth in an important series of international meetings started in 1978 dealing with the management of coastal and marine resources. This was a particularly significant year for the Coastal Zone 97 conference because for the first time it was held in New England. This document is comprised of abstracts that reflect the best of some 600 papers submitted for presentation at the conference, which represent more than 30 countries. These two volumes completely cover the plenary session papers, oral presentations, and poster presentation abstracts which were presented during the proceedings of the conference. There was a wide range in the topics covered. To provide an example of this diversity here are to paper titles: (1) integrating science and management: the Massachusetts Bays Program experience and (2) effectiveness of diver education in the Florida Keys. The conference was hosted by the Boston Park Plaza Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts from July 19th to the 25th, 1997. Upstream Solutions to Downstream Pollution. NRDC and coast Alliance. December 1993. 127 pp. This resource is a citizens’ guide to protecting seacoasts and the great lakes by cleaning up polluted runoff. It is a document intended to educate, motivate, and support citizens in their efforts to work together and cut down the amount of polluted runoff in and around our Nation’s natural water resources. This guide suggests that good place for citizens to start is to participate in their state’s coastal nonpoint program. This document includes outlines for the problem of polluted runoff, the coastal nonpoint program, management measures and practices, and public participation. This resource also has lists for state agency and EPA contacts, as well a listing of states and territories with approved coastal zone management programs. The guide acknowledges that each person who is a source of pollution can also be a source of the solution. Current, The Journal For Marine Education, Vol. 13, No. 2, 1995. 32 pp. This issue of Current is dedicated to the diversity of life in the oceans. The issue brings to the members of the National Marine Education Association a definition of biological diversity and compares and contrasts marine and terrestrial ecosystems. In addition to these issues, this resource provides a broad outlook of the human threats to marine diversity, outlines present management measures for sustaining marine biodiversity, and presents information and tools that can be incorporated into educational programs. There are seven articles in this issue, ones like "The Effects of Overfishing on Biodiversity" and "Threats to Coastal Diversity: Wetland Habitat Destruction" are certainly helpful and quite resourceful, but perhaps the most significant article to the Gulf of Maine program is the one titled "Making Connections: Global Lessons from the Gulf of Maine." The Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program (CCSP) was developed in 1925 under the Canadian Fish Inspection Act as a measure directed at the outbreak of typhoid fever which resulted from the consumption of contaminated oysters. As a result of this act, a formal agreement was entered into between the governments of Canada and the United States on April 30, 1948 dealing with sanitary practices prevailing in the shellfish industries of both countries. This practice includes the requirement for the continuing evaluation of the level of contamination in the water overlaying shellfish growing areas and their classification as to sanitary quality. This resource is an inventory intended to provide a summary of the classification status of growing area waters in the four Atlantic Provinces (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland) for the year 1991. This document also provides a review of the total area under surveillance by the program and a measure of trends in the classification from year to year. This resource, the 1994 addition of Coastlinks, provides a guide to Maine’s Coastal organizations, helping to discover and understand their goals, projects, and resources. Most of the entries of this resource have complete information on the organization’s goals, projects or programs, available resources, mailing and e-mail addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and, when available, Internet websites. The organizations are grouped under the following headings: aquaria, maritime museums/societies, educational and research organizations, environmental organizations, marine trade organizations, parks and sanctuaries, state agencies, cooperative extension offices, planning/municipal assistance, and miscellaneous. There are also many appendices with pertinent listings such as state parks along the coast and boat launching sites on saltwater and tidal rivers. The Bay of Fundy is an important component of the major functional coastal unit known as the Bay of Fundy-Gulf of Maine-Georges Bank System. It is renowned for its unique oceanography, abundant marine resources, diverse wildlife (especially seabirds and whales), fascinating history and outstanding natural beauty. The Bay’s dynamic environment is continually changing, both naturally and as a result of human activity. The Fundy Marine Ecosystem Science Project (FMESP) was developed in 1995 to address concerns arising from these changes. This document is a overview of this project and also a presentation of the proceedings from a workshop which was initiated by it. In addition to this overview of FMESP, there are also sections to describe in great depth the diversity within this ecosystem. The following sections are included after the original overview: the physical environment of the Bay of Fundy, the chemical environment of the Bay of Fundy, the biological environment of the Bay of Fundy, marine resources of the Bay of Fundy, and Bay of Fundy ecosystem issues. Casco Bay Plan, Draft, Fall 1995. Casco Bay Estuary Project. 1995. 227 pp. This document represents an outstanding collaborative effort among hundreds of citizens, local, state and federal government representatives, business leaders, scientists and non-profit organization participants to develop a plan which reflects strong interest in protecting the environmental health of Casco Bay balanced with the needs of the citizens who use it. It was prepared to generate actions and strategies to protect the health of Casco Bay, which is an important economic and environmental resource. This document was published under the efforts of the Casco Bay Estuary Project, and is a product of numerous discussions, workshops, seminars, and meetings. This resource introduces issues such as stormwater, clam flats and swimming areas, habitat protection, and toxic pollution in Casco Bay and then hopes to encourage on-going analysis of these areas by talking about developing new solutions, measuring progress, implementing and financing these plans, and also coordinating with federal programs. These plans are all aimed at bettering the health of Casco Bay and its watershed. This document serves as the resource for a forum which took place at the New England Aquarium in January of 1996. It provides articles and information about fisheries management, vessel buyout, aquaculture, fisheries co-management, by-catch, and habitat alteration. An example of one such resource is the ‘CRS Report for Congress: Overcapitalization in the U.S. Commercial Fishing Industry.’ This report provides background information describing the current situation (as of 1996) faced by fishery managers and policymakers. As such, this report provides a basic framework for considering possible amendments to the Marine Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MFCMA) of 1976 and other legislation that could affect the health of the industry and the welfare of marine resources. This particular article is one of many which are included in this resource. Since Congressional designation of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary in 1990, a close partnership between the federal government and the State of Florida has characterized sanctuary planning and development of the management plan. The management plan and inter-agency Memoranda of Agreements clearly partition governmental functions, such as permitting, enforcement, and research and education, between federal and state agencies. The coordination between federal, state, and local institutions is a product of many factors, including an explicit legislative mandate, inclusion of both federal and state waters in the sanctuary, two decades of successful federal/state partnerships in two small national marine sanctuaries in the Florida Keys, the State of Florida’s long-time interest in management of Florida’s marine resources, and the clear acceptance of principles of ecosystem management. This resource documents this agreement and discusses in great depth its background information, procedures, and future plans. Scientists have identified from 360 to 400 separate species of living sharks. These species exhibit extreme diversity in form and the habitats they occupy. They range in size from the gigantic whale shark, which can grow to 12 or even 15 meters in length, to the tiny pygmy, which are full grown at 25 centimeters. This is just a sample of the kind of information given about sharks and the industry surrounding them in this document. The main purpose of this resource is a guide to the management of shark fisheries. Two challenges to managing sharks are presented: (1) the misuse of fishery models based on telecost population dynamics, and (2) the migratory and transboundary nature of many shark species, requiring international collaboration for both research on stocks and the development and implementation of fishery management. Techniques used to manage fisheries, catch-quotas, entry and gear limits, monetary measures, finning and size restrictions, harvesting only males, and international legal instruments and principles governing the management of shark fisheries are also among the topic discussed in this resource. Action Plan: 1996-2001. The Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment. 1996. PDF. Available!! The Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment, in collaboration with public and private entities around the Gulf of Maine, has charted a course for the protection and conservation of coastal marine habitats in the Gulf of Maine. This Action Plan is a sequel. The first Gulf of Maine Action Plan, adopted by the Council in 1991, defined priorities, objectives, and a timetable for cooperative work by member jurisdictions ten years into the future. Major objectives for the years 1996-2001 focus on coastal and marine habitats, and the five major goals are: (1) protect and restore regionally significant coastal habitats, (2) restore shellfish habitats, (3) protect human health and ecosystem integrity from toxic contaminants in marine habitats, (4) reduce marine debris, and (5) protect and restore fishery habitats and resources. This resource is arranged by these major habitat goals, and follows a sequence beginning with a description of each major goal, its relative importance to the Gulf ecosystem, and then a list of the measurable objectives that have been selected in order to achieve the goal. The Green Book: New England Environmental Resource Directory. 1993-94. 316 pp. Ever since the first Earth Day and the establishment of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, New England has been a world leader in the development of solutions to environmental problems. The Green Book continues in that tradition by providing the most up-to-date, single source of regional environmental products and services. This directory allows you quick and easy access to time-critical, hard-to-locate regional data, manufactures/distributors, environmental services, important federal, state, and local government offices and officials, environmental organizations, publications, and on-line services. This directory was complete and accurate as of the year 1993-1994. Both products and services are arranged alphabetically by large categories, and government agencies are listed in a section after services. References include listings of national organizations, regional organizations, publications, colleges & universities, and on-line services. 1997 Official EnviroExpo New England Guide. April 29, 30, May 1, Boston, MA. From April 29th to May 1st, 1997 the 9th annual premier international environmental conference & exposition, EnviroExpo, was held at the World Trade Center in Boston, Massachusetts. This resource served as a guide to the proceedings which transpired during that conference. It includes everything from session descriptions to general information such as floor plans and shuttle bus times. This resource starts with welcome letters from dignitaries such as Boston’s mayor Thomas Menino and US senator John F. Kerry, and ends with the large listing of all exhibitors and products & services involved with the 1997 EnviroExpo. 1997-1998 Gulf of Maine Council Work Plan. 65 pp. This resource documents, among other things, the progress made on the Gulf of Maine Action Plan 1996-2001 for the year 1997-1998. It includes a financial summary of 1997-1998 work plan elements and detailed evaluations of each of plan’s strategies, along with analysis on projects not identified in the action plan, public outreach, and program support and management. In the strategies derived from the 1996-2001 Gulf of Maine Action Plan, each priority goal is broken down into the objectives and tasks which fall under their execution. Some of the other projects summarized include the regional protection strategy for the Northern Right Whale, the Gulf of Maine Coastway program, the Council home page and EDIMS, the Gulf of Maine Times, and the Gulf of Maine Council Business Advisory Committee. Overall, 1997-1998 was a successful year for the Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment and future projects were looking just as good. This guide provides information on funding programs available for environmental projects in the Atlantic Region (New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island). It is aimed at non-profit, non-governmental organizations, although it does include information on some programs that will fund individuals and municipalities. A brief, one-page description is provided for each program. The information provided in this resource is not comprehensive, but is only intended to give a general idea of what each program is about. The programs in this guide are listed in alphabetical order, and you can search for funding using the two indexes provided, by program sponsor, and by ‘who can apply’. This guide was made possible through funding by Environment Canada. All information provided in this resource was accurate as of September, 1995. This report is an overview of the first five years of the Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment’s work, beginning with the first Sustaining Our Common Heritage conference in 1989. Mid-way through the Council’s original ten-year plan, this activity report describes the major results of their unique, transboundary role of creating a precedent for developing a bioregional policy perspective and for taking action to address the protection and sustainable use of ecosystems that cross political boundaries. After introducing in summary the agreement and action plan of the Council, this document proceeds to update the actions and results done under the following titles: monitoring and research, coastal and marine pollution and protection of public health, habitat protection, creating connections, synergy, and the habitat focus and beyond. One of the main conclusions from this progress report is that the Council is working on their Action Plan 1996-2001 with a change in its major focus to coastal and marine habitats. Pursuant to the Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment’s goals elaborated in their Action Plan: 1996-2001, the U.S. Association submitted this Work Plan for the 1997 Project Year. An overall budget for the Project Year is presented first. This budget summarizes funds and match dollars dedicated to each project and gives a project year total. An overview of individual project goals, tasks, organizational structure and a detailed budget are then presented in the Work Elements section. Work Elements comprise the various projects the Council is undertaking in Project Year 1997. Work Elements include public education & participation, Gulf-wide analysis of conservation holdings, analysis of marine protected areas, mercury deposition to the Gulf of Maine, the business advisory group, action plan printing, and a continued Gulfwatch monitoring program. Project Year 1998 Work Plan. The Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment. July, 1997. 36 pp. Pursuant to the Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment’s goals elaborated in their Action Plan: 1996-2001, the U.S. Association submitted this Work Plan for the 1998 Project Year. An overall budget for the Project Year is presented first. This budget summarizes funds and match dollars dedicated to each project and gives a project year total. An overview of individual project goals, tasks, organizational structure and a detailed budget are then presented in the Work Elements section. Work Elements comprise the various projects the Council is undertaking in Project Year 1998. Work Elements include volunteer monitoring, promoting the interaction of science and management, the Gulf of Maine Times, increasing habitat protection through marine protected areas, the protection strategy for the Northern Right Whale, and the business advisory committee. The Gulf of Maine Action Plan: 1991-2000 was intended as an attempt by the states of Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts, along with the provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, to rethink their management of the Gulf and to define shared goals to strive toward over these ten years. The creation of this Action Plan required that the states and provinces recognize their common interests in the Gulf of Maine. The purpose of the Action Plan is best summed up in its mission statement: "to maintain and enhance environmental quality in the Gulf of Maine and to allow for sustainable resource use by existing and future generations." This resource documents how this plan came into being and lays out a rough outline for how its priorities and goals would be attacked from 1991-2000. This Action Plan sets its goals in the following areas: monitoring and research, coastal and marine pollution, protection of public health, habitat protection, and educational and participation. This resource provides detailed descriptions and information for each of these areas. Conservation Lands in the Gulf of Maine. Mary Hayes. September 1997. 6 pp. The Gulf of Maine Council’s 1996-2001 Action Plan established an ambitious goal of increasing the acreage of regionally significant coastal habitats that are protected by public and private organizations and landowners by 10%. As a first step, the Council funded a project to compile and analyze the status of current conservation holdings throughout the Gulf of Maine region. This resource provides the conservation land maps of the Gulf of Maine region by providing maps for Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Canada. In this document, there is also analysis of these maps which show that all jurisdictions in the Gulf of Maine collect and display electronic information on conservation holdings and public lands within their borders. From this report came four recommended next steps for the Council: create a centralized database for conservation, conduct a full-scale analysis of conservation holdings, establish a baseline for conservation holdings, and develop a strategy to increase conservation holdings. Marine Debris Project Highlights. Gulf of Maine Council on the Environment. May 1997. 4 pp. One of the major goals included in the Gulf of Maine Council’s 1996-2001 Action Plan was to significantly reduce the incidence of marine debris in the Gulf of Maine. Working together with concerned citizens, community groups, and government organizations, the Council is hoping to achieve this goal through proper education, prevention, and cleanup. This resource presents descriptions of those programs which highlight the successful projects carried out in 1996 towards this cause of reducing marine debris. Also included in this document is the Council’s workplan for addressing the marine debris issue in 1997. These highlights were published in May of 1997 by the Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment. Gulfwatch is a monitoring program for toxic contaminants in the Gulf of Maine. Because little was known on a regional basis about toxic contaminants in the Gulf of Maine when Gulfwatch was initiated, the program began with an initial step towards developing a better understanding about toxic contaminants and environmental quality in the Gulf of Maine region. This report summarizes the goals, organization, results, and uses of the first five years (1991-1995) of Gulfwatch and discusses future directions. Gulfwatch was designed to be a first-step action with a limited set of specific objectives for implementing the Gulf of Maine Council Monitoring Plan created by their Council’s 1991-2000 Action Plan. This document includes a retrospective survey of the Gulfwatch program, a technical review of the results, peer reviews, discussion, and recommendations. In their Action Plan, the Gulf of Maine Council outlined the need to identify "regionally significant habitats" in the Gulf of Maine for protection, restoration, and enhancement. A habitat panel, formed by the Council, agreed that such habitats could be identified as those areas of greatest importance to highly regarded species. After a survey was conducted to develop and rank a list of "priority species" based upon a variety of social and ecological criteria, two pilot projects were carried out to demonstrate approaches to delineating regionally significant habitats; one each in Great Bay and Passamaquoddy Bay. This resource documents the analysis developed from the project in the Quoddy Region. Initial analysis for this region, using methodologies described for all species and developing a single composite map, was not sensitive enough to indicate differences between "critical" as opposed to "important" habitat areas for most species. This evolved the project into splitting the 27 selected species into two groups, ‘open-water’ species and ‘coastal’ species, and this resource then proceeds to evaluate each group separately for its importance. The Gulf of Maine symposium, convened in November 1994, was the second in the series. Participants included individuals from state and federal agencies, environmental groups, universities, and industry, several of whom were Canadians. Participants focused on three issues of importance in the Gulf of Maine region: responding to the cumulative impacts of land and water activities in the region’s estuaries and near-coastal environments, protecting regionally significant terrestrial and marine habitats, and using indicators of environmental quality as a tool to maintain the health of the Gulf of Maine. This document presents the discussions and work done on these three main issues during the symposium. The resource begins with the stage-setting papers for each issue, and then proceeds to discuss each one by providing a issue paper on the topic, and also specific papers on the issue concerning the following: environmental science considerations, social science considerations, and policy development considerations. A summary is included for each main issue. Massachusetts. United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts: Northern Whale Case. This resource documents a complaint and request for declarative and injunctive relief, held in District Court of Massachusetts. The document presents an action taken on behalf of five federally listed endangered species of great whales; the Northern Right Whale (Eubalaena glacialis); the Humpback whale (Megaptera novaenagliae); the Fin whale (Balaenoptera physalus); the Sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis); and the Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus); one species of whale proposed for listing as threatened, the Harbor Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena); and the non-endangered Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) that live and inhabit marine waters along the coastline of the United States, and in waters under its jurisdiction. The complaint was brought up against the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries by a Conservation Research Group from Boston College. This resource lists the 94 claims raised against the Marine Fisheries Division. Also included are the motion for the consolidation of the preliminary injunction hearing with trail on the merits, the motion for leave to amend complaint, and the application for a temporary restraining order and motion for a preliminary injunction. The Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment established in 1989 by agreement among the governors and premiers of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia was composed of three appointed representatives (two governmental and one non-governmental) from each of these five jurisdictions. Council members were drawn from the state and provincial Environmental Marine Resource, Fisheries, and Coastal Zone agencies. However, the Council itself was not a regulatory body; it was a forum for activity by its members on issues relating to the Gulf of Maine environment. As such, it relied on establishing relationships among the many public and private players in the Gulf region whose activities affect, negatively or positively, the well-being of the Gulf. Working cooperatively to define a long-range vision for the Gulf, and the practical means to accomplish that vision, the Council encouraged member agencies, fellow agencies, as well as private organizations, to combine their individual efforts where possible. Though small in size, the Council represented more than the sum of its parts. This resource details some of the events (1989-1992) that reflected the Council's synergistic approach. This resource summarizes seventeen highlights from that year. Fiscal Year 1995 Annual Workplan for the Casco Bay Estuary Project. 1995. 29 pp. This resource is the annual workplan for the fifth year of the Casco Bay Estuary Project (CBEP) - fiscal year 1995 (FY95). 1995 represented the final year of the plan development phase of the CBEP. This workplan was based on completing a final plan for submittal to the Governor of Maine and to EPA by January, 1996. A detailed explanation of the schedule to complete the project is provided in Section II. This workplan was based on the preliminary Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (pCCMP) approved by the Management Committee in October, 1992. The final year of the project was devoted to finalizing the plan and closing information gaps. Specific projects included: raising public awareness about the recommendations contained in the plan; filling information gaps; writing and production of the plan, producing a Casco Bay atlas; and ensuring proper data management. The work in this resource workplan continued to focus on the priority issues identified in the pCCMP. Each of the projects in this workplan related to one of the five priority issues identified in the pCCMP or to the actual development of the plan. Casco Bay Financial Report for 3rd Quarter - Fiscal Year 1995. November 1995. This resource provides all of the financial information about the Casco Bay Estuary Project (CBEP) for its fifth year, 1995. 1995 represented the final year of the plan development phase of the CBEP. In this document, there is a complete contact list of all people associated with CBEP programs, updated spreadsheets for all fiscal matters, and a expenditure & match list for the 3rd quarter. There is also a listing of all employee changes within the Casco Bay Estuary Project. Draft for the Canadian Portion of the Gulf of Maine Shellfish Registry. This resource is the initial draft of the Canadian portion of the Gulf of Maine Shellfish Registry which Dorothy Beonard from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association put together with the U.S. Portion to produce a final Gulf-wide report. It includes inshore shellfish growing waters analysis and listings for classified shellfish growing waters from 1990-1994 in both Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. This resource also provides listings for the pollution sources affecting shellfish harvesting waters, descriptions of aquaculture activities, and landings for both Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. The resource concludes with a section for the reclamation and enhancement efforts in New Brunswick. This document is a draft, it is not complete, in fact, the section for the reclamation and enhancement efforts in Nova Scotia is left blank. The East Coast of North America Strategic Assessment Project (ECNASAP) is a collaboration among several Canadian agencies and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA’s) Strategic Environmental Assessments Division from the United States. This document summarizes the plans and ongoing activities for the ECNASAP Pilot Project. The purpose of the Pilot was to demonstrate the value of strategic environmental assessment by generating useful products for an international study area, extending from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada, to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, USA. This resource documents this pilot project, which consists of inshore and offshore case studies, and was completed in late 1995 to early 1996. This document was published before the completion of the pilot project. The project involved jointly developed information and assessment capabilities, but did not involve joint management. Gulf of Maine Point Source Inventory: A Summary by Watershed for 1991. December 1994. This document presents the results of the first phase of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) Gulf of Maine Project, completed in December 1994. The information contained within the database and this report reflect the comments and additional data provided by the reviewers during the summer of 1994. This report summarizes the information contained in the Gulf of Maine Point Source Inventory. The inventory includes structural data and pollutant discharge estimates for 273 major and 1,751 minor direct discharging point source facilities located in the U.S. and Canadian watersheds draining to the Gulf of Maine. Also in this resource, estimates of annual and seasonal discharges are made for 15 pollutants for a base year of 1991, using combination of monitoring data, permit limits, and typical engineering values. This document provides resource managers with valuable insights as to which facilities are important contributors of pollutant discharges to the coastal waters of the Gulf. Ray, Gary L. The Environmental Effects of Dredging. US Army Corps of Engineers. July 1997. 6 pp. This resource is a bulletin with one article: "Ecological evaluation of mud flat habitats on the coast of Maine constructed of dredged material." This bulletin was published in accordance with AR 25-30 as an information dissemination function of the Environmental Laboratory of the Waterways Experiment Station. The publication is part of the technology transfer mission of the Dredging Operations Technical Support (DOTS) Program managed by the Environmental Effects of Dredging Programs. Results from ongoing research programs were presented. Special emphasis was placed on articles relating to application of research results or technology to specific project needs. Contributions of pertinent information were solicited from all sources and were considered for publication. The Coastal America initiative established a partnership for action among the four Federal agencies having primary responsibility for the management, regulation, and stewardship of coastal living resources: the Department of the Army, the Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The main purpose of the Coastal America initiative is to protect, preserve, and restore the Nations coastal ecosystem - through existing Federal capabilities and authorities and to facilitate collaboration and cooperation in the stewardship of coastal living resources by working in partnership with other Federal programs and integrating Federal actions with state, local, and non-governmental efforts. On an annual basis the Coastal America office submits a progress report to the Principals which identifies management action undertaken and evaluates the effectiveness of program activities. This resource is the report for the year 1992. This document’s main section analyzes the program according to its regional objectives. The Coastal America initiative established a partnership for action among the four Federal agencies having primary responsibility for the management, regulation, and stewardship of coastal living resources: the Department of the Army, the Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The main purpose of the Coastal America initiative is to protect, preserve, and restore the Nations coastal ecosystem - through existing Federal capabilities and authorities and to facilitate collaboration and cooperation in the stewardship of coastal living resources by working in partnership with other Federal programs and integrating Federal actions with state, local, and non-governmental efforts. On an annual basis the Coastal America office submits a progress report to the Principals which identifies management action undertaken and evaluates the effectiveness of program activities. This resource is the report for the year 1994. This document’s main sections are strengthening regional partnerships, and building on success. This book provides both graphic artists and their clients with a current compilation of pricing methods, ranges and professional business practices applied throughout the industry. The growing complexity of uses, fee arrangements and business and financial considerations makes information of this type essential for all participants in the field. This resource addresses the major components in the graphic arts industry: Professional Issues and Practices, Pricing and Trade Customs, Standard Contracts and Business Management. The Graphic Arts Guide is dedicated to raising and maintaining ethnical standards throughout the communications industry. Sometimes, abuses of industry standards stem from ignorance of established criteria, but many stem from attempts to take advantage of the unwary, the inexperienced and the unorganized. It is this resource’s aim to change these conditions. The Corps of Engineers was formed some 218 years ago to be responsive to the needs of a young nation. And while the nature of their work has changed with time, their basic purpose remains - to be responsive to America’s needs. These three booklets present brief descriptions of water resources projects completed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire as of 1993. Each booklet describes the role of the Corps in planning and building water resource improvements and explains the procedure leading to the authorization of such projects. The material in these resources are arranged according to the type of project, i.e. flood damage reduction, navigation, or shore and bank protection. These documents also present the work of the Corps according to to the community in which they were executed, and provide two maps, one showing the location of all Corps projects in the state, and the other delineating Corps’ projects on the coastlines of Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, respectively. Each state is considered completely individual for its own booklet. Habitat Restoration Initiatives in Coastal Massachusetts-Cape Cod. Coastal America. The Northeast Regional Implementation Team (NERIT)of the National Coastal America program was asked to investigate the potential for habitat restoration projects throughout Cape Cod, MA as part of their Northeast Coastal Strategy. The New England Division of the Corps of Engineers responded with two of their own programs designed to provide assistance to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, in conjunction with the Coastal America partnership. These two projects were (1) the regional evaluation of Cape Cod’s degraded saltmarshes, and (2) saltmarsh restoration in Sagmore, MA. This resource documents these two projects by providing the pictures and analysis which resulted from each projects’ execution. This document also has many important appendices such as the Cape Cod wetlands investigation in cooperation with the Coastal America initiative, the 1995 status report of the Coastal America Northeast Regional Implementation Team, and general background information about the Coastal America program. Local, state, and national economies supported by the coasts depend on clean water and healthy habitat. There is no getting around it. People travel to the beach to go in the water, and increasingly health-conscious consumers want fish on their tables. Whether it’s from fisheries, tourism, boating, or other activities, the coasts are the engines that drive many state economies. This report tells the horror stories of families and towns put out of business by coastal pollution and introduces the smart businesspeople who figured out that protecting coastal resources increases profits. This resource presents a state-by-state breakdown of the economic values of healthy coastal resources. The complete report includes all states in the nation which have any connection to the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean or Great Lakes, but for Gulf of Maine purposes this document only includes the analysis from the Mid & North Atlantic states, with particular attention paid to New England States bordering the Gulf. This resource presents the listed and plotted data from commercially and recreationally important species caught during the Northeast Fisheries Science Center’s 1995 autumn bottom trawl survey. The tows made were with a #36 otter trawl from the research vessel ALBATROSS IV out of Woods Hole, MA. The trawl had an 80-foot roller rigged footrope, 5-fathom legs and 1,000 pound polyvalent doors. Because of the 30-minute tow duration, and random selection of station locations, catches can be light compared to commercial tows. Also, vessel operations are on a 24-hour basis and catches have not been adjusted for day/night catchability differences for some species. Nevertheless, these data can provide fishermen with useful information about distribution and the relative abundance of fish over the entire survey area from Cape Hatteras to the Gulf of Maine. Catch data from 23 special tows made in the Georges Bank are also included in this report. This document is composed of the station maps, station information, and species locality breakdown that result from this trawl survey. The Volunteer Monitor, Vol. 7, No. 1, Spring 1995. 24 pp. The Volunteer Monitor newsletter facilitates the exchange of ideas, monitoring methods, and practical advice among volunteer environmental monitoring groups across the nation. This issue was published by the New Hampshire Lakes Lay Monitoring Program, a collaborative effort between the University of New Hampshire and lake and watershed associations across the state. This particular issue is titled ‘Managing and Presenting your Data’. It talks about all the things you need to do after your monitoring information is collected, such as how you get those numbers into a format that makes sense to yourself and others, and how you turn your data into a story. The steps are summarized in the following schematic: data, entry & validation, preliminary summary, interpretation (findings, conclusion, and recommendations), presentation to different audiences, and use. These sections are discussed in detail in the articles throughout the issue, such as "Designing a Data Management System" and "Using Graphs to tell a Story". Winter 1994/1995 Issue - Announcements: The Manager Speaks-Add Two More, Clams! Some Flats Reopen in Hampton Harbor, and Visionary Awards. Features: Program Tackles Nonpoint Pollution in Coastal Waters, COASTWEEKS '94, and Volunteers Work on Restoration of Sandy Point Marsh. Community involvement: A Watershed Approach to Marine Debris, NH Coastal Program Hosts Gulf of Maine Secretariat for the Year, Environmental Management Workshops, DES Workshops, Seabrook Septics are Under the Microscope, and Odiorne Hosts Mini Series onthe Gulf of Maine. Salty shorts: Fall and Winter Coastal Migratory Visitors Puzzle. Spring 1995 Issue - In this issue: Manager's Corner, and Five Years of Great Bay Watch. Features: Under the Boardwalk, Coastal Cleanup Results, and Non-Point Efforts in Coastal Watersheds. Community involvement: Island Ethics, Think Global & Act Local, Sandy Point March Restoration Continues, and Aquaculture Forum. Salty Shorts: Non-Point Pollution Quiz, and Mailing List Update. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed the Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) to document the type and quality of data needed for environmental decisions and to provide a blueprint for collecting and assessing those data from environmental programs. The development, review, approval, and implementation of the QAPP is an essential part of the mandatory Agency-wide Quality System. This document is a draft, it provides the QAPP requirements in an external publication primarily for organizations that conduct environmental data operations on behalf of EPA through contracts, financial assistance agreements, and inter-agency agreements; however, it may be used by EPA as well for specific plan requirements. This document presents the specifications and instructions for the information that must be contained in a QAPP for environmental data operations performed |